Rene Thomas and Stan Getz

A year ago I posted about Rene Thomas' Meeting, off of a 1963 release entitled Meeting Mister Thomas. Recently JazzWax reader David Langner found this fabulous clip of Meeting in Paris, featuring Thomas on guitar, Eddie Louiss on organ and Kenny Clarke on drums. Dig Clarke's figures...

 

Then I found this one with Stan Getz, Thomas, Louiss and drummer Bernard Lubat in Paris...

 

JazzWax notes: Pierre-Emmanuel Seguin in Sydney, Australia, tells me that the director of both clips was Bernard Lion [pictured], who worked for French television and was well known in France. He also co-founded the Chateauvallon Jazz Festival. JazzWax reader and trumpeter Jeff Helgesen advises that there's a French Wiki site with translated bio info here.

By the way, Pierre also informs us that the clips above come from the website of the French INA (Institut National de l'Audiovisuel). Mke sure you're sitting down when you arrive there. Fabulous additional clips to watch. Thanks, Pierre! Go here.

Guitarist and reader Royce Campbell reminds us all that Rene Thomas' last name is pronounced TOE-Mah.

Comments

[David]

The trio in the first clip was a regular working group with Thomas alternating with Jimmy Gourley. They recorded a sensational album for Dreyfus, in 1968 or possibly earlier, titled simply "Eddy Louiss Trio." Although one of the cuts is "No Smoking," they definitely are! Bits of Coltrane influence make their way into Thomas' playing in places.
Getz recorded a few times with Louiss, whom he called "a genius." The best of these is probably a 2 cd set on Verve, recorded in 1971 with the group seen in the second clip, and titled "Dynasty."
Thomas was also a frequent partner of Bobby Jaspar.

[John Dierickx]

As David stated, the Stan Getz double LP 'Dynasty' is a true gem, I have it on vinyl, hence the term LP instead of CD...I guess I'm still a bit old fashioned ;-)
Further recordings of interest are Guitar Groove, The Italian Session (with Chet Baker and Bobby Jaspar), and TPL, (with Jaques Pelzer).
TOE Mah looks a bit awkward to me...But I can't suggest any other pronunciation, my English is not good enough for that.
I'm from Belgium, as was René.
Thanks for bringing René in the spotlights!